Pivot’s Firebird is the Word

How many times have you heard someone say “Have you seen the new Firebird?” Maybe it’s just me, but that seems to be a big portion of what I’ve been seeing and hearing lately. Two co-workers, who were previously diehard fans of both Specialized and Santa Cruz mountain bikes, sold their bikes and bought Firebirds nearly immediately after the Pivot Demo. It was almost disconcerting. Last year, when consumers were asked what brand of mountain bike they would buy for their next bike, more consumers responded with “Pivot” than any other bike brand.

I asked one of them “Why the Firebird? Is it really that good?” Meanwhile, in the back of my head, I was thinking about how much I love my Hightower and that NOTHING can be better than that. His answer was this: “Without question, it climbs better than my Stumpy. And it was even better on the descent!”

I couldn’t believe him. I’ve had a Mojo HD and grew to understand why DW link bikes get such accolades in the climbing department, but to hear that a 170mm bike climbed better than a Stumpy, my Hightower, and a Bronson seemed like a stretch. He also said that while being a long-travel machine, the sub-17″ chainstays and long front-center made the bike insanely playful on the descent.

Here’s some statistics I dug up that help explain why Pivot’s new Firebird is gaining so much heat:

As Pivot says it, “The Firebird features some of the longest reach measurements in the sport, combined with super-short, 16.95”chainstays. The resulting long front-center keeps the front wheel in contact with the trail on the ups and gives the Firebird a perfectly balanced, highly capable technical climbing ability over rough terrain.

When descending, the Firebird’s long and low geometry puts the rider “in” the bike for increased stability at high speeds and on steep technical challenges, while the short chainstay measurements provide a maneuverable, dynamic ride that makes it easy to put the bike where you want it.”

Based on my co-workers’ smiles and rave reviews, the Firebird sounds like it’s a lot more than just hype! Top it off, Pivot’s got a Firebird for everyone; the Firebird comes in a large variety of build kits to suit a wide range of budgets and experience levels.

About the Author

Scotty is a non-professional, fun-having kind of fellow who likes riding bikes. CX and mountain bikes are where he spends most of his time. If he's not riding, he's surfing a board that he's crafted by hand. He is also passionate about building frames of the steel variety. Scott joined us after completing a thru-hike of the Pacific Crest Trail.